As you all know time flys when you are so busy and so then came New Years Eve! Boyce was able to get tickets to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans which was on January 2nd so we decided to head down a few days earlier and experience Bourbon Street for New Years Eve. We met some friends down there and lived it up. Everyone was in the spirit and so many red shirts - go utes!It was so neat to see and what a blast we had!

Courtney and Aaron also came snowboarding/skiing with us but Aaron wasn't feeling too well after partying too hard the night before so they went home a little early but still we all had fun.

The 2 boys (Callen and Cordell) got snowboards from Santa so of course we had to go try them out on the slopes. Last year Boyce and I learned to snowboard but the next day we couldn't walk so this year we decided to stick to what we knew and ski. We had a blast and can't wait to go again.

Sledding is a priority in the winter for the Sanderson's. We made the kids wear helmets because it gets so crazy out there and Callen was worried about picking up girls because he kept saying he looked stupid, though he didn't, but he wore it anyways.

Along came Christmas Eve, it comes so fast, and Santa visited my parents home and made Cordell his Elf and Julian his reindeer; Rudolf none the less. How cute that was! They sang some songs and opened some presents it was wonderful.

We have a few family traditions of our own. Besides the Carriage Ride we talked about earlier we take our kids to Build-a-Bear workshop to build a Bear. They each get to do it just the way they want to. They bath it and dress it and fill out the birth certificate for them. They each name their Bears "their" name and then we take them up to Primary Children's Hospital and give them to them so they can give them to the children who are scared and need a little pal to see them through what they are going through. Our Kids are so good to do this and they look forward to this each Christmas.

And of course JuJu wanted to make a baby to go with the "mommy" snowman.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

What do you do when it is snowing cats and dogs outside? You go out and make a dog out of snow. At least that is what Boyce can do, the rest of us just rolled snowballs.

Every December Todd & Julina (Boyce's Sister & Brother-in-law) put together a family Christmas Party. It is so fun and we look forward to going every year. We all bring gag gifts to exchange with everyone and this year was Boyce's best. He brought a box of left over pizza and nobody could stop laughing!! He is such a prankster but knows how to make people smile, that's why he is so loved by all of us. At the party Santa even shows up with presents for everyone. Julian was so excited to see him. He asked Santa for a Wall E robot and when he got his gift from Santa he opened it ans started to cry because it wasn't what he had just asked Santa for. We had to explain to him how it worked and then he was a little better but still confused. It was so funny!


Thanks Todd and Julina for a great tradition we can share in. It is hard work but you guys do a wonderful job!

So every year we try to cut our own Christmas Tree. This year we picked the warmest of days to go hiking through the hills for our Tree. It takes forever to find just the right one but it sure is fun spending time with the family trying to. We make the day of it and end up doing a little target practice after, which the kids love. Julian even got to shoot the big guns with daddy's help of course. Julian was a little upset that Dad used his Root Beer can for the target and kept saying "he blew up my Root Beer", so next year Dad said he would use the Coke can for the target instead of the Root Beer can. Funny Funny!

After seeing the lights we always take a carriage ride around the city. This year our horses name was Wesson (Smith was pulling the carriage behind us) and he was a tough horse. Once we got on the road back to Temple Square, Wesson started running. He couldn't wait to get back to the waiting line.

Now into December again and this month is full of family traditions. The first is us heading downtown (taking Trax of course) to temple square to see the lights. I am always amazed at how beautiful it is down there and what a good job they do.

Cordell is also playing in Jr. Jazz again this year and WOW! he is so fun to watch. He is taking sports way more serious this year and it is awesome to see his progress. His mind is always in the game and he never gives up.

Good job boys, have fun and remember I love you both!

Ti's the season for Basketball, my favorite sport! This year was Julian's first year in Jr. Jazz and you should see him run the court, it is so dang CUTE! Boyce couldn't get enough of coaching in the fall so he is now coaching Julian's Basketball team. He is so cute with the boys and the boys love him. Boyce is definitely an all around guy!

After our meal we loaded the kids up and headed to St. George for Callen's Soccer Tournament. He won one and lost two but had a blast. It was nice and warm down there so we definitely enjoyed that.

Thanksgiving was great as always. We had brunch at my parents house and then headed down to St. George. Here the kids are with their homemade turkeys my mom made them.

This year we all dressed up for the big day. We had all the kids this year so we were so happy. Boyce and I were Pirates - Callen was a Grandpa - Cordell was a Girl - Emery was the scary Witch - and Julian was Darth Vador.

Now the funnest part of October, Boyce's favorite holiday of all - Halloween. Here is a picture of Courtney and Aaron at the trunk or treat we all did for the Christmas Box.

Gap had a photo contest and we entered Julian - Here is the picture sent in. If you want to vote for him you can go to gap.com and vote starting December 8, 2008 - Even if he doesn't win the contest he is a winner with us - Go Julian!

As you know Julian is now in Pre-School and October brought his first field trip to Sweet's Candy Store. Julian wasn't as interested in the Candy - if you can believe - he just wanted to ride the big yellow bus. Even when they returned and had to tell what their favorite part of the trip was Julian's answer was the "big bus"!

Julian absolutely loves dads new Harley. He couldn't wait to go for a ride.

October brought some colder weather and along with that some fun times. Boyce surprised me by taking me to California for a weekend to be in a commercial with my favorite band of all time Nickelback. It was so cool to be there being apart of the action. Chad rocks!

If you know us you know that our kids are into all kinds of sports. They play Soccer, Football, Basketball and Baseball.

This past summer Callen tried out for his first Soccer Comp League and made it on Team USA - yeah Callen! His games were all over the place but very fun to watch. Boyce was able to see him score a goal which was awesome.

I cannot tell you how much fun it was to see Cordell run with the ball -

OOPS! I should introduce our dog Sage. We have had him since November 2001 and he really is part of the family. He goes camping and 4-wheeling with us most of the time and is a crazy but lovable dog. We love you Sage!

If you know us you know our family loves to camp and ride bikes! Here is some of our 4-wheeling trip - this particular picture is at 5-mile pass and is of Julian and Cordell. Fortunately Cord was in the mood to give him a ride -

We have camped a lot over the years and one of our favorite places to camp and 4-wheel is Vernon Reservoir - This picture shows our bikes at rest -

Emery played Soccer for the first time this year and Wow! can she throw in that ball. Callen was able to coach her a little so she was better prepared for it. She also started dance this fall and we can't wait to see the recitals - yeah Emery!

As you know Boyce turned 39 this year and he was hoping that he would receive one of his presents by his birthday but that didn't happen. But luckily it was worth the wait -

I was lucky enough to be team mom for Cordell's Football team and it was such an experience! I got to know each and every parent and child and I will miss them so much. I was even asked to be on the board of directors for Taylorsville Football League next year so we will see how that goes - Go Warriors!

Boyce had a tough and time consuming job this fall, coaching Cordell's Football team. Lucky for Cordell he was able to play tons but what a job for Boyce. He said he learned so much and I think all of us did during the Football season. He even had us do a tournament so it lasted even longer. I am glad that Boyce had this to focus on so that the other stuff lingering didn't seem so bad. He said he had so much fun and what a great experience it was for him. If fact it wasn't enough this year he wants to come back and do it again next year. Sick!

Mean while Cordell played his first year of Football this year and loved it. he was part of the Taylorsville Gremlins-Black team and it was so fun to watch - so intense but so fun. Cordell was able to run the ball a few times and learned so much. He even made his first interception which was so cool - yeah Cordell!

Julian started Pre-School this year at Calvin Smith and here is a picture of him going to School on his first day September 10, 2008 -

Here is Travis Bailey and Boyce at the Reunion Dinner -

Go girls! Here is from left Cori Shea, Andrea and LeAnne partying it up at the 20 year -

Wow! 20 years already?? I guess so. August 22, 2008 brought Boyce's 20 year reunion. Yes you heard right - Boyce graduated from Cyprus High School 20 years ago. The planning committee did a great job putting this together. They had a golf day the day before and then a dinner the day after couldn't have been better. Here is Boyce and LeAnne and Travis and Cori Bailey (our good friends) putting some down - at the Cyprus golf day.

Our family has something amazing happen on August 12, 2008. Cordell officially became a Sanderson. Boyce adopted Cordell and we changed his name to Cordell Michael Sanderson. We are so blessed that we were able to legally join him and Boyce together. We all know that a name is just a name and Boyce was already his father but now it is legal - what a relief! The picture is of Boyce and Cordell at his Adoption Party!

Oh no! Julian's getting eaten by the Shark! Here we are at Universal Studios Florida at the Jaws ride. From left to right - Callen - Cordell - Emery - and Boyce is holding Julian -

Universal Studios Florida was so fun. We all thought it was way better than the Disney Parks.

DisneyWorld!

We took the family to DisneyWorld again this year. We went the last week of June - July 4th 2008. We had a lot of fun and rode some really fun rides. Here are the kids hanging out (probably in line somewhere).

This is Julian thinking he is all that!

Here is (from the left) Juliann, Courtney, LeAnne, Cordell and Julian is in the front of us. We are lounging out on the boat - still in Lake Powell -

Here is my cutie - Ju Ju

Here is another picture of the group at Powell -(from left to right)

Juliann - Julian - Cordell - Courtney

This is LeAnne and Cordell heading for the Beach at Powell -

Okay so our Courtney Tilt graduated from Valley High in 2008 - yeah Courtney! So she wanted to go to Lake Powell with a friend so we planned the trip. She brought a girl named Juliann and I think we all had fun. This is all of us in a hole in the mountain. I really love Lake Powell it is so beautiful!

Julian played Baseball last spring and loved it. He would get so mad if he couldn't retrieve the ball every play, it was hilarious. He is signed up for Basketball this winter and we can't wait to see that - Go Julian!

Also, in April 2008 it was Boyce and Cordell's first Pine Wood Derby. I think they had fun and as Boyce always says "Now I know what to do next year". Cordell took 3rd place so not too bad for their first time.

In April of 2008 Boyce took me back to Maui for a little R&R and boy was it needed. We have now been to Oahu the first time, Maui twice and Kauai. Next time we will stay on the island of Kauai the whole time, hopefully that comes sooner than later. I miss doing nothing and drinkin it up on the beach. Hawaii take me away!

As you can see we had a long day of snowboarding and on the way down the canyon Callen and Cordell couldn't help but crash!

So this winter our second daughter and babysitter Courtney and her friend asked us to go snowboarding with them so of course we were up for the adventure. Boyce and I have never been snowboarding just skiing so we were a little nervous. We took Callen who has been snowboarding before and Cordell but Emery and Julian did not want to venture out to try it this time. Wow! I don't think either of us could walk the next day and decided that though it was fun we enjoyed skiing more because it hurt our old bodies less. Cordell and Callen were crazies on the mountain but had a blast. We definitely are going again this coming winter.